This page's focus is on my recent trip to Idaho and Oregon. This is Part 1 of that trip.
My newest novel, What's Next~An Epic Journey, is available to the general public. The book is a sequel to the The End of Time and Back: An Epic Journey. You can purchase now byclicking here. (Scroll to the correct title.)
A picture from the successful book signing on Saturday, June 25, at Re BOOK.David Riggs joined me in the signing.
To the End of Time and Back: An Epic Journeyis available via Amazon and Kindle. It will grab you from the start and carry you to places you have never been. The book contains many diverse ideas and is a great love story filled with adventure and intrigue.Questions? Email me. To read more click here. To go to Amazon, click here.
A number of individuals have sent some wonderful reviews. You can read some ofthem in the Forum Section below.
Powell's, Portland, one of the largest bookstores in the world, over a million books available
Opening Comments from Bob
This Page: We recently traveled the Northwest including Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The focus this month is on Idaho and Oregon. Next month will be on Washington State. The two poems, Now and The Slate, focus on more serious ideas. The vignette discusses exploring.
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Echo Reservoir near the I-80 & I-84 intersection
Snake River Gorge, Twin Falls, IA
.Two Poems this Month
Now
The roads traveled are sometimes straight– others filled with hairpin curves.
The views fade into vestiges of our past.
Where they lead remain unknown.
Only of the now are we aware.
Senseless time spent worrying about this and that.
Why not delight in what we have?
Wrap our arms around this moment, our treasure
Comment: None needed.
The Slate
All would enjoy continual days of wine and roses where life is flowing perfectly, and we are on a high which no drug could compete.
Sadly, life rations these everlasting moments.
Instead, we must deal with the lows that cause our hearts to ache and generate frustrations that make us want to scream.
Alas, we cannot run to escape for they are part of us.
Our hope is that the perfect days will return more often as we transcribe the slate that describes our daily lives.
Comment: None needed
Enjoying the Portland Rose Garden
Jake's, Portland's oldest seafood restaurant
Crossing into Washington from Oregon (much more next month)
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Of course being the month of the U.S. 4th of July celebration, we needed at least one fireworks shot.
Columbia River in Oregon. Picture was taken just outside of the River Lodge.
Vignette this Month: Exploring
How do you view life? For me, it is exploring, sometimes taking roads well-traveled and other times less traveled. Allow me to use the analogy of a recent trip we took in exploring the Northwest of our beautiful country. For speed and distance we initially took the interstates, I-80 and then I-84. The drive was beautiful as the miles flashed by. Once in Oregon we chose to travel a portion of old US-30. Suddenly, time slowed down as well as distance covered. The switchbacks required speeds of less than 15 mph versus 75 and 80 mph. Yet, the beauty that unfolded before us including crashing waterfalls and majestic views made one forget about traveling miles and instead focus on one of the reasons for the trip, exploring majestic beauty. Isn't life like that? Traveling the roads less traveled offer many challenges and sometimes trying situations. However, I have found that they are often worth it from the rewards one receives in enriching life from the mundane to a journey far more spectacular. Alas, for my personal survival I choose to travel both types of roads but usually receive the most joy from the one where speed slows down and savoring occurs. What about you?
If you have a guest vignette you would like to submit, please do so. Not only will I enjoy reading it, but if agreeable with you and space permitting, I will print it in a future issue. The vignette should be written in paragraph form and relate a personal story or event. Equally important, it should fit the overall tenor of this newsletter. Ideally, it should not exceed twenty lines. Please send to bob@poeticaljourneys.com.
.............................................Columbia River Gorge taken off of old Rt. 30
Recommendations
River Lodge in Boardman, OR: This renovated lodge at a bargain price is worth an overnight, especially for the view. While the service in the restaurant was rather slow, the food was excellent.
Much to recommend on the drive to and in Portland! Here are just a few: Take old Rt.30 in Oregon; visit Powell's Bookstore; enjoy the seafood–Jake's downtown is excellent; and enjoy Blue Star Donuts (pictured below)–the best I have ever devoured. (Jake's, Powell's, and Blue Star are within a block of each other.)
Please take a look at the online book and gift pages.
Scenes taken from the Japanese Garden in Portland
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The vast farming regions along the Idaho and Oregon section of I-84.
There are a number of falls along old Rt. 30 in OR. Pictured is Multnomah Falls
Collage from the Portland Rose Garden.
Below are additional pictures from the Portland Rose Garden
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